Progres.Online

Palaw Index May / 2025

May 2025: Palaw Preparation Costs Climb by 15.4%.

In May 2025, the average cost to prepare palaw in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan reached 69.5 Turkmen manat – a 15.4% increase from 60.2 manat in May 2024. Compared to last month (April 2025), when the cost was 68.3 manat, this represents a 1.8% month-on-month rise. Globally, food prices also increased, with the FAO’s Food Price Index showing a 6.0% rise year-on-year.

Annual Price Changes for Core Ingredients in Ashgabat

In May 2025, prices for key palaw ingredients in Ashgabat showed significant fluctuations. Rice saw the most substantial drop, declining 23.7% from the previous year. Carrots and sunflower oil also became cheaper, falling by 17.1% and 0.6%, respectively. On the other hand, several ingredient prices surged– onions rose dramatically by 95.4%, beef increased by 35.0%, and wheat flour climbed 23.9% (see Figure 1).

Donate to support Turkmen analysts, researchers and writers to produce factual, constructive and progressive content in their efforts to educate the public of Turkmenistan.

SUPPORT OUR WORK

FAO Price Index: Global Trends by Product Category

  • According to the FAO, the Vegetable Oil Price Index in May 2025 rose 19.1% compared to the same period last year, though it declined 3.7% from last month (April 2025). Sunflower oil prices fell amid reduced global import demand and declining competitiveness.
  • Meanwhile, the FAO Cereal Price Index – which includes wheat and other staple grains– dropped 8.2% year-on-year.
  • The FAO All Rice Price Index inched up 1.4% over the same period, driven by steady demand for fragrant varieties and rising Indica rice prices.
  • The FAO Meat Price Index posted a 6.8% year-on-year increase. Bovine meat prices reached a new record high globally, fueled by strong demand and limited export supplies from major producers.

Methodology

Prices of ingredients in the Palaw Index are collected for 1 kg of onion, carrot, beef, rice, and flour, and 1 liter of cooking oil. Based on the methodology, in order to cook palaw for a family of four, we use 0.3 liters of cooking oil, 0.5 kg of onion, 1 kg of carrots, 0.6 kg of beef, 1 kg of rice, and 0.5 kg of flour in our formula. Please click here to learn more about the methodology of the Palaw Index.